Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
The mission of the ardf is to fund and promote the development, validation and adoption of non-animal methods in biomedical research, product testing, and education.
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation at a glance
In short: Alternatives Research and Development Foundation gave $332K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), top state Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $332,253
- +9.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,465
- +40.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $49,999
- Total assets
- $17,124,006
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
Alternatives in Research (AiR) Challenge program Grant
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
Amount
US $210,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
ARDF: Annual Open Grant
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Alternatives Research and Development Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Johns Hopkins University Juhra ($100K). Together the top 7 received $332K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 33 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Alternatives Research and Development Foundation gives
- Giving grew 49% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $126K (2021) to $332K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $332K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University Juhra Baltimore, MD | Dr. Fenna sille research grant immune disruptors and the developing brain: unraveling how immunotoxicants shape neurodevelopment; dr. Lena smirnova research grant- advancing organoid intelligence with a hippocampal-cortical system | $99,555 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH | Dr. Jason tchieu research grant generation of the olfactory epithelium from human pluripotent stem cells to study neurodegeneration | $50,000 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Dr. Aitor aguirre research grant engineered human heart models for advancing drug cardiac safety assessment | $50,000 |
| University of Arizona Arizona Board of Regents Tucson, AZ | Dr. Jian gu research grant in vitro modelling of bubble-assisted focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening | $49,999 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | Dr. James hagood research grant an advanced ex vivo model for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis | $49,999 |
| Institute for in Vitro Sciences Inc Gaithersburg, MD | Support of Iivs Education and Outreach Program | $27,500 |
| People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Norfolk, VA | Support of Jointly Operated Antibody Alternatives Program | $5,200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,124,006 | $1,391,661 | $947,409 | $332,253 | 7 | $1,311,971 |
| 2024 | $16,848,676 | $2,129,417 | $834,489 | $303,608 | 9 | $896,388 |
| 2023 | $14,204,946 | $750,868 | $634,425 | $210,000 | 6 | $673,249 |
| 2022 | $11,875,792 | $859,795 | $581,268 | $222,323 | 7 | $526,141 |
| 2021 | $15,528,574 | $1,584,193 | $540,377 | $126,135 | 4 | $1,506,279 |
| 2020 | $13,902,918 | $944,011 | $527,042 | $262,889 | 9 | $869,513 |
About Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Jenkintown, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $17.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $332K. Net investment income was $1.3M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation is led by Sue A. Leary, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sue A. Leary
President
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Luke Klein
President
Board Member → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
12 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Aaron McIntyre
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Cowie
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Ludwig
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Finn
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nadia S. Adawi
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Smith
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Francis Krafchik (2020–2024) — Board Member · Filing note: Deceased in 2024
- Former: Douglas R. Barr Sr. (2020–2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to Sue Leary (President (Prior to 10/7/25)). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Alternatives Research and Development Foundation
How much does Alternatives Research and Development Foundation give each year?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation gave $332K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $304K across 9 grants.
What is Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's typical grant size?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $49,999, and its average grant was $47,465, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Alternatives Research and Development Foundation give grants?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's top state is Maryland, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Ohio (15%) and Michigan (15%).
Does Alternatives Research and Development Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's largest grantees?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Johns Hopkins University Juhra ($99,555), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ($50,000) and Michigan State University ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Alternatives Research and Development Foundation?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation reported $17.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What is Alternatives Research and Development Foundation?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Jenkintown, PA. It holds $17.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's EIN?
Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2740843. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Alternatives Research and Development Foundation funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alternatives Research and Development Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Alternatives Research and Development Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?